August 19, 2016
Nathan Hague, Marshall News Messenger
Many coaches and players of the ETBU football team are wearing bracelets with the word 'Elevate' written on it as head coach Scotty Walden said that sums up the team goals heading into the 2016 season.
"Our team motto this year is 'Elevate,'" Walden said. "We want to elevate this program to the next level and we want to elevate our kids' lives to the next level, spiritually, academically and athletically and that's what we're setting out to do. That's the motto we're going to live by this year.
Last year saw the Tigers finish with an overall record of 7-3 and a share of the American Southwest Conference championship.
"I don't want this program to be a one-hitter," Walden added. "I want it to be long lasting and these seniors want it to be long lasting."
One of those seniors is defensive tackle Desmond Oliver who wants to prove his team's success in 2015 wasn't luck.
"(Our goal is) to repeat as conference champions but this time outright," Oliver said. "I feel like we have the pieces to be outright champions this year. I want to grow as a person, to grow spiritually, to grow as a leader and to show the younger guys in this program what it takes.
"I want to end up on top like Peyton Manning and be a champion in my last game," Oliver added.
Senior running back Jourdan McNeill agrees and said he hopes to help leave a mark with his team during his senior season.
"We just want to get better as a team, take steps forward," McNeill said. "We haven't had back-to-back winning seasons here for a while so I think that's our goal to win six games at least and keep going as a team.
"I think we just have to control what we can control, no turnovers, no penalties, things like that," McNeill continued. "We're a really talented team on offense and defense. If we can find a way to get past ourselves, we'll be fine."
Oliver and McNeill are part of a senior class that includes 11 others. Walden, who's entering his first year as head coach and fourth year with the team, said a motivating factor this year is helping the senior class end the year in Manning-like fashion, just as Oliver mentioned.
"Every senior class is special," Walden said. "To me, they all have a special place in our hearts because they're the first freshmen we recruited here. They bought into what we were selling early on and stuck with it for four years. You're talking about guys like Tyler Scott, Jourdan McNeill, Cam Peters, 'Double O' Onisokien Osuamkpe, a four-year guy for us working his tail off every single day. They wanted to come here and create something and they have. Then you talk about the other guys who transferred over, guys who have come along in that class like Verry Jackson, C.J. McGill at right tackle for us and Desmond Oliver. Those guys have come in and bought in. You want it for them more than anything because this is their last go around and they're part of that first class that we recruited."
The Tigers are just a few days into practice and many spots are open for competition and have yet to see who will start at many positions, including quarterback, three of which are freshmen.
"We have a total of eight quarterbacks on the roster," Walden said. "Those freshmen quarterbacks are as good as advertised. They're as good as any I've ever been around. This is by far the deepest quarterback group I've had. It's going to be a really tough decision when it comes down to it. It's a great problem to have because there's so much talent. We had a quarterback meeting the other night and I talked to the guys about supporting one another. 'Don't make this a poisonous situation to where you're hoping the other guy messes up,' and they bought into that. They see the bigger picture. I told them at some point after our two scrimmages that we're going to make a decision as to who the starting quarterback will be game one against Texas Lutheran. Whoever that guy is, we're going to support him no matter what and they were like, 'Yes sir.' The cool thing is they know every single rep they take is vital so the competition is at an all-time high and it raises the level for everybody else. It's been fun to watch because those freshmen have picked up the offense faster than I've seen freshman do that."
So far, Walden is pleased with how practice has gone and says there are bright spots in all three phases of the game.
"I'd say offensively, I've been pleased with how we're running the football," Walden continued. "Defensively, creating turnovers and breaking up passes. I tell you what, there was a day out there where I thought we had five touchdowns and those defensive backs went up and either picked it off or got it out of the receivers' hands. You talk about guys like Hardy Hill, Dylan Bowman, those guys are just back there making plays. A kid named Zack Biles is really coming on. Those guys are back there making plays, making things happen. Our secondary has been extremely active.
"Our defense was No. 2 in the country in tackles for a loss last year and that showed up in the a few drives yesterday" Walden added. "When you return five offensive linemen, you better be able to run the football and that's what we're doing right now. We're able to run the football."
Walden said the team chemistry is better than it's ever been before and added that he's proud of the Tigers' attitude and determination. Perhaps with those things combined, the Tigers will have the formula needed to win a conference championship.
"I think anytime you rise up and start knocking on the door for people, you've got to kick that thing down at some point," Walden said. "Right now we're banging on the door and I believe this is our year to bang that thing down and let the American Southwest Conference know, 'Hey we're a contender. We don't plan on making this a one-time deal.' Our kids know that this is a program that is built on hard work, physicality and speed and doing things the right way. When you do that with great enthusiasm, you have a chance to be successful and that's where our program is headed."
Saturday's scrimmage between ETBU and Tyler Junior College is slated for 7 p.m. at Maverick Stadium. The Tigers will kick off the season Saturday, Sept. 3 on the road against Texas Lutheran.